After nearly 15 years in development, Andy Serkis’s animated adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm is nearing release, having been acquired by Angel Studios. The film, a long-held passion project for the director, features a screenplay by Nicholas Stoller (The Muppets).
The acquisition by Angel Studios is a notable development, as the company is primarily known for producing and distributing faith-based content. The studio gained widespread recognition for its crowd-funded hit Sound of Freedom, which became a surprise blockbuster in 2023.
Serkis’s film boasts an impressive voice cast, including Seth Rogen, Steve Buscemi, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Woody Harrelson, Kathleen Turner, and Serkis himself.
First published in 1945, Orwell’s classic novella is a scathing political allegory about farm animals who overthrow their human owner to establish a society of equality. Their utopian dream decays as the pigs in charge become as tyrannical as the humans they replaced, serving as a sharp indictment of authoritarianism and a cautionary tale on the corrupting nature of power.
Adapting the novel’s layered meaning and dark, subtle tone has long been a challenge for filmmakers. Serkis, a pioneer in performance capture and digital storytelling, has aimed to create a definitive version that honors Orwell’s message.
However, following a screening at the Annecy Film Festival in June, the film received a muted response with no significant critical acclaim. Audiences were reportedly underwhelmed, with criticism centered on a perceived tonal shift from Orwell’s bleak satire to a more family-friendly narrative. Reports also highlighted the unexpected inclusion of juvenile humor, such as fart jokes, which many found to be a baffling choice for the weighty source material.
Animal Farm is scheduled for a theatrical release in 2026.
